News

Anti-knife campaigner shaves off her hair for fundraising project

SHAVE & DIP: Anti-knife campaigner Theresa Cave shaves off her hair to raise money for a caravan that will be used to enable vulnerable youngsters to enjoy a holiday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

SHAVE & DIP:Jo Bennett owner of Strawberry Tart in Redcar starts to shave the hair of Anti-knife campaigner Theresa Cave to raise money for a caravan that will be used to enable vulnerable youngsters to enjoy a holiday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

SHAVE & DIP: Anti-knife campaigner Theresa Cave shaves her hair to raise money for a caravan that will be used to enable vulnerable youngsters to enjoy a holiday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

SHAVE & DIP: Anti-knife campaigner Theresa Cave shaves her hair then has a dip in Redcar sea to raise money for a caravan that will be used to enable vulnerable youngsters to enjoy a holiday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

SHAVE & DIP:Jo Bennett owner of Strawberry Tart in Redcar shaves the hair of Anti-knife campaigner Theresa Cave to raise money for a caravan that will be used to enable vulnerable youngsters to enjoy a holiday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

SHAVE & DIP: anti-knife campaigner Theresa Cave pictured with Sharon Henderson and Angie McGhee who have both lost family members. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

A CAMAPIGNING mother has shaved her hair off and taken a dip in the chilly North Sea to raise money to help pay for a holiday home for families affected by murder or violence.

Theresa Cave set up the Chris Cave Foundation when her son was stabbed to death in 2003 and is now trying to raise £7,500 to create a peaceful refuge for families by buying a static caravan in Redcar and opening it up all year round.

The foundation, set up in 2008, offers help and support to families and communities affected by violent crime. It is also fighting for stronger anti-knife laws in the UK and works to encourage young people to stay away from crime.

Her latest fundraising event saw her having her head shaved before stripping off and heading into the sea.

“We need to raise £7,500,” she said. “If we get that much we will be able to buy a caravan and pay for the pitch fees for a year. Today we managed to raise £1,095 and with the £2,500 from the Finlay Cooper Fund we are nearly half way towards our target.”

Mrs Cave launched her campaign after experiencing first-hand the devastating loss of a murdered child and the impact it has on all of the family.

She said: “Getting this caravan is something that we need to do for all of the families affected by violence, they somewhere they can go to get a bit of peace and quiet that is away from their usual surroundings.

“Half of the people that we have spoken to say they just want somewhere where they can go and be away from everything and just spend some time together.”

Sharon Henderson, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Nikki Allan, and Angie McGhee, whose granddaughter Amy was five when she died in an arson attack in Scotswood, Newcastle, came down to Redcar to support Theresa as she had her hair shaved off.

Mrs Cave added: “This just shows that people are prepared to stand together to fight knife crime and support families whose lives have been torn apart by violence and crime.”

Anyone wanting to support the campaign or make a donation should visit facebook.com/pages/The-Chris-Cave-Foundation or call 07981-991482.